Pond

There’s two main kinds of people who keep fishponds, those who view their pond as a bit of an outdoor aquarium and those who view it as a wet flowerbed. Depending on which one you identify with, a pond can be either an opportunity to grow an exciting range of plants, or a feature which needs plants to provide biological balance. Of course, many of us have a foot in both camps. Find out more.

Spring is here and you may have noticed that the first pond plants of the year are arriving in our stores...

After a two-year coronavirus hiatus, we had the chance to once again head east to the mountains of Nagaoka, Japan in search of Japanese Koi for the up-and-coming pond season. Our primary goal securing small 7-10cm Tosai (In its first year - up to one year old).

After a long hot summer in the pond section, we’re approaching the time of year when there’s bargains to be had. The water is warm, the fishes have been in stock for weeks and not only are they bigger than when they arrived, their price has gone down rather than up.

Usually a very hardy group, pond fish can be expected to thrive come rain or shine, as long as conditions are stable and water quality remains high.

Choosing to add a water feature to your garden will open your eyes to another world. Every garden will benefit from a water feature and even the smallest pond can attract wildlife.

Pond temperatures have been high enough for tropical fish lately and it brings some extra pressure on the natural processes taking place in the pond. To ensure everything goes smoothly, there are a few steps you can take to make this time of year as free of stress as possible.

Regardless of the type of pond you’re planning, there are some guidelines that apply to them all. Here's everything you need to know to get going with a new pond in your garden this season. 

No matter what kind of pond or water feature you own, the chances are you’ll want what we all aspire to – crystal clear water. It’s a very simplistic view but most clarity issues are caused by two main problems: algae, or particulates.

Choosing a pond pump can be a daunting task, with many different manufacturers offering all manner of models and designs. Some design features only become apparent over time and use, with ease of cleaning being one of these that can save hours of cold, wet hands when it’s time for maintenance. Here’s everything you need to know.

Over millions of years, algae have been thriving in freshwater ecosystems and forming the base of important food chains. Fuelled by sunlight and dissolved nutrients, these simple microscopic plants are a familiar sight – all too familiar for many fish keepers.

The last twelve months have really shown us that there’s no place like home. Many of us have more free time than ever before and in times like these, projects that offer us long term benefits are of great value. Adding water to your garden has many benefits to our health and wellbeing, and there's no escaping the good physical workout that comes from digging a large pond and the satisfaction from completing the project. But how do you get started?

The past few months have really shown us the healing power of nature and just how readily our wild neighbours can enrich our lives by sharing our outdoor space. Indeed, choosing to add a water feature to your garden will open your eyes to another world. Find out more about how you can go wild in your garden and get to know your neighbours a little better. 

We’ve put together our top tips to help you get the most out of your pond this autumn and to make sure your fish are well-prepared for the onslaught of winter.

It’s been a funny old year, as usual though, the weather has given us some highlights and the usual late summer storms have given us classic ‘Orfe on the lawn’ weather. It’s time to contemplate what’s going on in our water gardens and what motivates orfe to go wandering.

Everybody knows about koi, they’re the expensive pond fish that are worth thousands of pounds. Only this is wrong most of the time. Paul Tapley explains why...

The past few months have really shown us the healing power of nature and just how readily our wild neighbours can enrich our lives by sharing our outdoor space. Indeed, choosing to add a water feature to your garden will open your eyes to another world. With limitations on travel and the world currently upside down, there’s never been a better time to bring the world to you instead…

Outdoor and underwater lighting can impart a magical ambience to your pond once the sun has set. Through the use of different types of illumination, both above and below the water, the pond can take on a whole new aspect at night, with the water reflecting the lights and the pond plants casting unusual shadows. Here's everything you need to know about lighting your pond.

This year we heard that there might be a shortage of small koi available, so we made the decision to go out to Japan in February instead of April. Check out the highlights of our Maidenhead Aquatics team trip to Japan this year.

The first in a new series of Alan Titchmarsh's 'Love your Garden' aired on ITV1 on 25th February 2020 and what am amazing garden they created this week in Hull.